'I'm as old as Cumbria Pride and I can't wait to go'

When the first Pride march was staged in Cumbria back in 2009, Mason was just a baby.

Since then, the LGBTQ+ community has successfully campaigned for many rights, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

But for 15-year-old Mason, who will be attending Pride for the first time this year, it is still as important as ever for the community to be visible and stand together.

Mason, from Brampton, said he grew up "feeling weird" and like there was no-one else like him.

"I've spent a lot of time wondering what was wrong with me - they don't teach these things," he said.

"At one point I had a crush on my friend and that was long before I came out as trans and I didn't know what was happening."

Mason, who is studying for his GCSEs, said realising he was trans was a longer process for him.

"I went through the pronouns - they, them and then he, him - doing it gradually helped me not feel scared, as such."

For Mason, discrimination has not been a huge issue, he said, although he has suffered abuse from other young people growing up.

But it was the lack of knowledge that left him feeling confused.

"Really there should be something where they teach you about these things, so you don't feel like you don't exist."

Mason is planning to attend his first Pride later this year, with the main event taking place in Carlisle on 21 September.

"Pride helps me realise there are more people like me here - it's not just me out on a limb by myself," he added.

Although the Carlisle event is in its 15th edition, smaller Prides have been popping up across the rural county in recent years.

Others planned include Barrow, Silloth, Ulverston, Whitehaven and Kendal - the latter two staged their first Pride last year.

A new event will also be held in Carlisle on 1 June, which celebrates communities coming together as part of a diversity carnival.

Stuart Ritson, from Pinc - Pride In North Cumbria - which is behind the event, said: "We want it to be a celebration of the expanding community that we have in Cumbria - race, gender, sexuality, disability."

He added the events helped everyone realise they were part of a larger community, especially somewhere like Cumbria.

"Everyone is accepted, you don't have to feel ashamed of who you are," he added.

The diversity carnival includes a march and a Big Lunch event, with evening entertainment at the Brickyard in Carlisle.

Stuart added: "It's all about celebrating who we are - it's quite nice to see different types of people coming together."

Ro Borgia is in the band The Spectrum, which headlined Whitehaven Pride.

The 17-year-old, who is studying for their A-levels, said they were very fortunate to have supportive parents, and they had attended Pride events since the age of two.

"Pride is a warming and joyous event," they said.

"At a time when there is so much turmoil in the LGBTQ+ community, it's somewhere where you can go and be yourself."

Ro said they found it exciting to meet different people at Pride, especially as Cumbria was "very quiet" for gay people.

"There's a lot of diversity, but it's very hidden. As much as I would like to bring it out, for me, I would thrive better in an environment where the culture is changing and I can immerse myself in it."

Ro said although they had always been "out and proud", at times they still felt self-conscious.

"I feel I have to hide certain bits about me at certain times, I am conscious about certain parts of me."

But they added they were free to be themselves at Pinc and at Pride.

"Before [Pinc] there weren't many places you could go to and be yourself.

"It's kind of detached from places like the bigger cities, it's quiet, which makes it more difficult."

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